Our digital future: experts on the opportunities and challenges

Digital Transformation has been a major topic in the PEX world for some time now, but there is still a divide between early adopters, and those who are reluctant to make big changes to accommodate technology that they find confusing, unproven and intimidating to break into.

Driving digital transformation: Automation and the unique power of people 
Ryan Duguid, Chief Evangelist, Nintex

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Digital transformation, says Ryan, is not just about getting the technology right; you also need to remember that it's only as good as the people behind it.

Ryan's presentation tackles the big subject of why neglecting the people at the heart of a business is a recipe for disaster when it comes to digital transformation: it's not all about the tech, he argues, people are important too.

The first big problem Ryan identifies is around communication and resourcing. 'Everybody talks about it and believes they have a plan,' he says, 'but there are a lack of communications and resources which is a big block.'

Ryan has identified the top 3 challenges to Digital Transformation as a lack of interdepartmental communication strategies, IT bottlenecks and insufficient training for line of business employees on new technology.

Skills are, he says, particularly crucial: 'We need to focus on education and training to make sure people continue to have meaningful work. Poor top down communication is leaving employees in the dark about Digital Transformation efforts within their own companies.'

This communication is also important: the leadership of an organization needs to communicate the reasons why they are carrying out changes - as well as showing what the changes will achieve in the long term. 

Putting people at the heart of transformation will keep the focus where it should be, using technology as a means to 'making a change in the way we do business. Technology is just an end game- we're thinking about customers, employees, innovation, the wider community.'

Ryan says that Digital Transformation must go beyond being thought of purely in terms of big data, the cloud, bots and RPA.

'The cloud's not magic, it's not a unicorn. Cloud computing is not Digital Transformation, and Digital Transformation is not a destination... it's not even a journey. It's a pursuit, and one we've had for a long time as a society and as individuals.'

Here's Ryan's full presentation.